Shelly and travelled to Grand Teton for the third consecutive year to participate in an International Migratory Bird Day event held there. Of course we birded along the way. Our original plan was to visit Antelope Island early Friday morning, but events at home and the weather squashed those plans. I hear we missed a lot of good stuff at that location. We did manage a short visit to Bear River MBR and picked up about 50 species. Time constraints prevented us from visiting Cutler Marsh and other Cache county hot-spots we visit on our way to Teton/Yellowstone. Highlights of our trip:
WESTERN KINGBIRDS at Bear River–the only flycatchers we saw.
At least 8,000 FRANKLIN’S GULLS at Grey’s Lake NWR.
Dozens of SANDHILL CRANE at the same location.
Approximately 150 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS hovering in front of a GREATER-SAGE GROUSE lek in Grand Teton.
A wayward DUSKY GROUSE who decided to establish and defend his territory in the middle of one of the most congested roads in the Park.
The return of the AMERICAN ROBIN to Jackson Hole. Thousands of robin converge after a long winter to feed on the emerging insects.
Raptors including PERIGRINE FALCON, PRAIRIE FALCON, BALD EAGLE, GOLDEN EAGLE, RED-TAIL HAWK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, SWAINSON’S HAWK, KESTREL, and OSPREY.
TRUMPETER SWANS on the Snake River.
But our birding highlight was hearing a STELLAR’S JAY mimic a red-tail hawk. Never heard this apparently common behavior before, truly memorable.
The spring spectacle more than made up for the lack of numbers–we tallied about 60 species in the Park. Our weekend total was 98 species. We also spent a good deal of time watching a grizzly bear dubbed #399 by the Park service. Her litter of three cubs will likely be weaned in the next couple of weeks.
